WEST BOUNTIFUL – For at least the next few months, city officials are keeping smoke shops out of West Bountiful.

The city council passed a temporary ban on all smoke shops at last week’s meeting, citing a need to research the impact such stores would have on the city. Though there are currently no smoke shops in West Bountiful, potential interest from a tobacco store inspired the decision.

“It’s a temporary land-use ordinance that gives the city time to look into any negative effects (smoke shops) might have on the community,” said West Bountiful City Administrator Duane Huffman.

Huffman said the ban will last either six months or until the city is done with its research, whichever comes first. The planning commission will be responsible for the study, which may lead to a permanent ban in the future.

“We’ll place the format for the study in the hands of the planning commission,” said Huffman.

The Utah State Code forbids smoke shops within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, churches, and other community areas. It also must be at least 600 feet from a property zoned for commercial/residential use.

“There’s not many areas in West Bountiful for a smoke shop to be acceptable to state code,” said Huffman. “We need to see what the impact would be in those areas.”

West Bountiful isn’t the first Davis County city to consider such a move. Last August, Centerville became the first city in the state to ban smoke shops entirely. The ban passed 3-2, though the one smoke shop then open in the city was grandfathered in.

At the time, city staff members also cited the change in the state code as part of their motivation for the ban.